Courtney Act and Duncan James to host the Inaugural UK Rainbow Honours.

The Rainbow Honours, a celebration of those who have stood out in their support for the LGBTQ+ community will take place on 4th December at Madame Tussauds in London.

Honours will go to the people and organisations who show commitment to equality all year round in categories such as LGBTQ+ Icon, LGBTQ+ Champion and LGBTQ+ Campaigner, and Trans Advocate.

Celebrities, campaigners and organisations who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to equality and diversity will be recognised at the inaugural 2019 Rainbow Honours Awards.

This is a unique evening of celebration to shine a light on those unsung champions who give up their spare time to volunteer, work tirelessly and strive to make the world a better place for the LGBTQ+ community.

There’s no doubt that the LGBTQ+ community has made amazing strides in recent years, yet it’s also true that LGBTQ+ people still face prejudice in the workplace, education and across social media.

That’s why this event will reward those wonderful individuals and organisations who further LGBTQ+ equality and inclusion. We will honour those who dedicate themselves to fairness for all and deserve our accolades – they are, after all, the UK’s Rainbow Heroes.

The star-studded awards ceremony is set to take place on 4 December 2019, in partnership with DIVA, Europe’s leading magazine for lesbians and bisexual women, and The Thomson Reuters Foundation’s LGBT+ digital platform, Openly. The event will also feature LGBT+ community champions who are striving to influence change in the quest for true LGBTQ+ Equality. The charity partner for the event is Queer Britain, the national LGBTQ+ museum.

The public is now being encouraged to vote for their Rainbow Heroes at www.rainbowhonours.com. It’s time to nominate those who you feel further the cause of LGBTQ+ equality and have stood out in their support over the past year.

Duncan James said “I am honoured and proud to be hosting the 2019 Rainbow Honours, where we will celebrate and honour the achievements and accomplishments of the LGBTQ+ community. This is something that is very close to my heart and I look forward to a fun and exciting evening.”

Courtney Act said ‘As our community makes leaps and bounds with acceptance and visibility in the mainstream it’s important to maintain focus on the so too often unsung heroe’s who are doing amazing work. This is our chance to celebrate them, lift them up, and amplify their voices and stories. I’m so honoured to host this special night and celebrate the achievements of our queer community.’

Antonio Zappulla, CEO of the Thomson Reuters Foundation said: “Shedding a light on the untold stories of LGBT+ people around the world is core to the work of Openly, the Foundation’s dedicated LGBT+ digital news platform. We pride ourselves on impartial, authoritative and trustworthy coverage of global issues. Openly provides an alternative source of credible news and in doing so, works to break down global stereotypes or ignorance. For this reason, we are delighted to be supporting the Rainbow Honours to celebrate LGBTQI heroes, networks and allies who do so much to advance LGBT+ equality and inclusion.”

Joseph Galliano, Co-Founder and CEO of Queer Britain, the national LGBTQ+ museum, said: “It is of vital importance to recognise and celebrate the people and organisations working tirelessly to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people and their families. At Queer Britain, we want to shine a light on these stories, which can inspire and uplift us all. This is why we are proud to be associated with the Rainbow Honours.